Page 84 of Day Shift

“Yeah, more than good.” I sniffed, cleared my throat, and turned my face from her neck to kiss her cheek. Pulling out of her, I rolled onto my back and heaved her onto my chest, giving me the chance to regain my composure.

“Angel,” I said, giving her a playful squeeze. “I’d love nothing more than to stay in bed and fuck you six ways to Sunday, but we’ve got to get up and face reality. Lucian told me earlier that he and the other guys would meet us at the club, and they’re probably already waiting.”

She focused on me, her icy blue eyes full of sadness and hope and regret and a world of other emotions. “I never want this moment to end,” she whispered. “Conan, you make me feel…safe. More than that, you make me feel valued. You’re the first person who has ever made me feel truly alive. Before I met you, my life was on a course dictated by others. You’ve shown me what it means to be cherished, to matter. Every moment with you is a gift I never thought I’d get. I don’t have the words to express how much you mean to me, but know this: you are my strength and my courage. I trust you with my life—with my heart. I’ve never experienced anything like this, and I never will again. You’re everything I never knew I needed.”

Her words ignited a fire within me, a burn that would forever mark my soul. I pulled her closer, tenderly capturing her lips. Holding her face in my hands, I poured all of myself into that one kiss—my promise to protect her, my desire to worship her body forever, my unwavering commitment to her until the end of our days.

When we finally pulled apart, I pressed my forehead to hers. “I promise you eternity, Angel. I will protect you, no matter what. You’re mine, and I won’t let anyone take you away from me.”

Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. She took my face in her hands, planting kisses all over my face. “We may only have today and tomorrow, but I will forever hold you in my heart. You’ve given me a lifetime’s worth of love, and no matter what happens next, I have no regrets.”

After giving me a final, chaste kiss, she slipped out of bed, leaving me breathless and more determined than ever.

With that, we rushed to shower and dress. As I tugged on my clothes from the previous day, Angel laughed.

“Looks like you could use something clean to wear,” she teased, slipping into a pair of leggings and a flowy yellow top.

“Guess I’ll have to make do.”

“Why don’t you and Braxton stay here? I have an extra bedroom. Don’t you think it’ll be easier for all of us to be together right now?”

“I was just about to tell you I wasn’t going to let you out of my sight,” I said, a smirk tugging at my lips. “I’m glad you suggested it.”

I found my phone lying on the floor and called Braxton. He answered on the first ring.

“Everything okay?” he asked.

“For the moment, yes. Angel has invited us both to stay with her while we try to figure things out. Think you could get on over here with all our stuff? I could use a change of clothes.”

“Sure, no problem,” he said before hanging up, not making any effort to linger on the call.

While we waited for him to arrive, we started cleaning up from the night before. A few minutes later, the intercom buzzed repeatedly, interrupting us. Angel buzzed the person in and found a local courier in the vestibule, holding a large box. “Sign here,” the man said, handing Angel a tablet and stylus.

She signed for it and then brought the box into the living room. After dropping it onto the center of the sofa, she untied the strings and opened the lid. Inside was a beautiful wedding gown and a fancy black dress. Angel sat down, pulling the wedding dress partially out of the box, fingering the intricate lace. A sad expression overtook her features.

“What a waste for such an incredible dress,” she lamented. “This whole wedding is such a farce.”

I walked over and stood beside the sofa, lifting her chin with my fingers. “Don’t be sad, my Angel. It’s just a dress. Focus on what your life will be like once you’re out from under your family and the marriage contract.”

She sighed, nodding. “You’re right. I was hardly involved with any of the wedding planning anyway. My aunt Elena took care of everything. I was supposed to help with the arrangements this past month, but instead, I was lost in Tacoma. I’m sure she’s handled it all without me, exactly as she wanted it. Frankie’s family hasn’t even met me yet. Can you believe that? Considering he’s forty-six, his older sisters haven’t been eager to connect with his twenty-seven-year-old contract bride. We were all supposed to have dinner the Thursday after I left for Tacoma. I wonder what Frankie thinks about my disappearance. I bet Aunt Elena has made up a bunch of lies.”

“Who knows and, honestly, who cares?” I said. “One way or another, I’m going to get you out of this mess.”

I moved to sit on the other side of the sofa, where I’d sat last night, the dress box between us. When I stretched my arms out along the back edge, our shenanigans replayed in my mind. Food, wine, and whiskey had opened up possibilities I’d never imagined.

“What are you smirking about over there?” she asked, reading my face. I bet she knew full well what was running through my mind.

I didn’t answer her. I needed to change the subject before I acted on my impulses.

Making a U-turn, I asked, “So, why did you just up and leave Tacoma without saying a word?”

She sat there, speechless, as though she hadn’t expected me to ask that question. She obviously still didn’t know me that well. I wasn’t one to mince words. I’d always been the type to just say what I was thinking.

“I didn’t want to put you in any more danger than I already had,” she finally answered. “I never dreamed you’d be so bold and follow me here, much less find me in the middle of Manhattan, for Christ’s sake. But you did, and here we are. Now, you pretty much know all my deep, dark, ugly secrets, and you’re still hanging around.” She let out a cleansing breath. “Besides, I did send an email explaining everything.”

“Yeah, to Sam.”

“I had no clue how to contact you. I don’t have access to any souped-up Atticus-fueled tech measures like you do.”

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